Fig tree named ‘S-54’

ABSTRACT

The ‘S-54’ fig tree is a common-type fig tree, characterized by high vigor, precocious growth, and abundant production of large yellow to yellow-green figs. ‘S-54’ figs have a very small, closed eye that restricts the entrance of insects and spores that may cause internal decay or unwanted pollination. The skin of ‘S-54’ figs is moderately thick and durable, making the fruit well-suited for packing and shipping as a fresh market product. The fruit pulp is an attractive red color, has fine texture and is sweet and rich in flavor.

Latin name: Ficus carica.

Variety denomination: ‘S-54’.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

‘S-54’ is a new and distinct variety of fig tree, which originated from a controlled cross carried out by the inventor in 2010 near Roseville, Calif. Fruit of a ‘Desert King’ fig tree (not patented) was manually pollinated with pollen from fruit of a ‘91C’ caprifig tree (not patented). The ‘Desert King’ fruit was covered with a cloth sleeve cage before and after manual pollination to prevent pollination from other sources. At fruit maturity in the fall of 2010, the manually pollinated fruit was harvested and the seed was cleaned, dried and stored. The seed was subsequently planted in small containers in the spring of 2011 at Roseville, Calif. The resulting seedlings were planted in a test location near Traver, Calif. in the fall of 2011 and numbered ‘S-1’ through ‘S-98’. Seedling ‘S-54’ was observed to be extremely precocious, and was selected for further evaluation after producing a first fig crop in August of 2012.

Asexual propagation of the ‘S-54’ fig tree was first carried out in 2016 near Wilton, Calif. by grafting on an existing three-year-old fig tree. The grafted ‘S-54’ tree produced and matured its first fruit in the summer of 2017. The fruit, leaves and branches were identical to those of the original ‘S-54’ seedling. The ‘S-54’ fig tree has since been reproduced over successive asexually propagated generations and has been observed to remain true to type and retain its distinctive characteristics.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The ‘S-54’ fig tree bears large yellow- to yellow-green-skinned common figs, which do not require caprification (pollination) in order to set and mature fruit. The ‘S-54’ fig tree is characterized by high vigor, and is precocious, productive and a regular bearer. The tree produces two crops: a first “breba” crop, and a second, more productive “main” crop. The fruit eye of the S-54 is very small in size, thereby restricting entrance of many insects and spores that could otherwise enter the fruit and cause internal decay. The fruit skin is moderately thick and durable, making the fruit very suitable for packing and shipping as a fresh market product. The fruit pulp is an attractive red color, has fine texture and is sweet and rich in flavor. The fruit appears to hold its size later into the season than other commercial varieties of figs, thus extending the season for good size and quality fresh figs.

The ‘S-54’ fig tree can be distinguished from female parent ‘Desert King’, and from ‘CA Brown Turkey’ (not patented) and ‘Calimyrna’ (not patented), both which make up the genetic background of the male parent ‘91C’, as shown in the following tables:

TABLE 1 Comparison of ‘S-54’ Fig Tree to ‘Desert King’ Fig Tree Characteristic ‘S-54’ ‘Desert King’ Fig type Common San Pedro Size of eye (main crop) Small, closed Medium, open Pulp color Deep red (greyed- Amber to moderate purple 185A) red

TABLE 2 Comparison of ‘S-54’ Fig Tree to ‘CA Brown Turkey’ Fig Tree Characteristic ‘S-54’ ‘CA Brown Turkey’ Fig type Common Common Skin color Yellow to yellow-green Purple Pulp cavity Filled Often hollow Size of eye Small, closed Medium

TABLE 3 Comparison of ‘S-54’ Fig Tree to ‘Calimyrna’ Fig Tree Characteristic ‘S-54’ ‘Calimyrna’ Fig type Common Smyrna Size of eye Small, closed Large, open

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

FIG. 1 depicts a 5-year-old ‘S-54’ fig tree growing near Sanger, Calif. (photo taken in 2022);

FIG. 2 depicts fruit and leaves on a 2-year-old ‘S-54’ fig tree growing near Wilton, Calif. (photo taken in 2018);

FIG. 3 depicts whole and sectioned fruit and a leaf from the 2021 breba crop of an ‘S-54’ fig tree growing near Sanger, Calif.;

FIG. 4 depicts whole and sectioned fruit and leaves from the 2021 main crop of an ‘S-54’ fig tree growing near Sanger, Calif.; and

FIG. 5 depicts fruit from the 2021 main crop of an ‘S-54’ fig tree growing near Sanger, Calif.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The following-detailed botanical description is based on observations made primarily during the 2020 and 2021 growing seasons at Sanger, Calif. of trees planted in 2018. All colors are described according to The R.H.S. Colour Chart (Royal Horticultural Society, 3^(rd) ed. 1995). It should be understood that the characteristics described will vary somewhat depending upon cultural practices and climatic conditions, and will vary with location and season. Quantified measurements are expressed as an average of measurements taken from a number of individual plants of the new variety. The measurements of any individual plant or any group of plants of the new variety may vary from the stated average.

-   Tree:     -   -   Form.—Upright.         -   Habit.—Spreading.         -   Vigor.—Vigorous.         -   Height.—4.1 m.         -   Spread.—3.8 m to 5.2 m.         -   Trunk diameter.—21 cm at 10 cm above ground level.         -   Bark texture.—Relatively smooth with low, relatively fine             vertical striations and numerous scattered lenticels.         -   Bark color.—Grey 201C with greyed-orange 177B vertical             striations.         -   Plant hardiness.—‘S-54’ has been grown successfully in USDA             Plant Hardiness Zones 7, 8 and 9, and can likely be grown in             other zones as well. -   Scaffold branches:     -   -   Quantity.—4, positioned 20 cm to 40 cm above ground level.         -   Diameter.—8 cm to 13 cm near trunk.         -   Bark texture.—Similar to trunk, with roughened longitudinal             striations and scattered lenticels.         -   Bark color.—Grey 201C. -   Secondary branches:     -   -   Density of branching.—Dense.         -   Diameter.—Varies widely; stronger secondary branches range             from <1.4 cm to 5.4 cm.         -   Color.—Mature basal portions grey 201C; less mature tips             grey 201A.         -   Nodal swellings.—Present near leaf scar; not prominent on             young tree but expected to become more prominent as tree             ages. -   Shoots:     -   -   Texture.—Scattered short, stiff pubescence.         -   Presence of weeping shoots.—Weeping secondary shoots             present, especially noticeable on lower portion of tree.         -   Color.—Yellow-green 144A.         -   Tip bud shape.—Conic with attenuate tip.         -   Tip bud position.—Variable, often moderately oblique to             branch end.         -   Tip bud color.—Yellow-green 145A.         -   Tip bud length.—1.9 cm.         -   Tip bud diameter.—0.9 cm.         -   Internodes.—Quantity varies, from 10 to 19 internodes on             shorter shoots, to 25 to 27 internodes on longer shoots;             shortened internode length occurs near tip of shoot.         -   Timing of terminal bud burst.—Varies depending on the             temperature of the growing location; usually between the             last week of February and the second week of March in the             Central Valley of California.         -   Shape of two-year-old shoot.—Straight. -   Bark tubers:     -   -   Location.—Moderate number present on scaffolds from about 80             cm to 180 cm above ground level.         -   Shape.—Globose to oval.         -   Relative size.—Small, expected to increase in size as tree             ages.         -   Length.—0.4 cm to 0.6 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.4 cm to 0.7 cm.         -   Color.—Gray 201C. -   Leaves:     -   -   Leaf form.—Palmately lobed; usually five lobes, three lobes             not uncommon.         -   Lobe form.—Latate.         -   Central lobe form.—Latate.         -   Basal lateral lobes.—Present.         -   Base form.—Calcarate.         -   Sinus.—Moderately deep; sinus bottoms variable in form, most             frequently with upper sinus bottoms double “U” in form and             lower sinus bottoms single “U” in form.         -   Surface texture.—Both surfaces pubescent; pubescence on             upper surface short and stiff, pubescence on lower surface             longer, relatively softer and more flexible; pubescence             density greater along the leaf veins on both surfaces.         -   Vein prominence.—Very prominent on lower surface, less             prominent on upper surface.         -   Margin.—Outer margins coarsely crenate with broad             crenations; sinus margins entire.         -   Length.—18.5 cm to 22.0 cm.         -   Width.—19.0 cm to 24.0 cm.         -   Upper surface color.—Yellow-green 147A with yellow-green             150C veins.         -   Lower surface color.—Yellow-green 147B with yellow-green             150C veins. -   Petiole:     -   -   Length.—Medium, 6.5 cm to 9.21 cm.         -   Diameter.—6.0 mm to 7.0 mm.         -   Pubescence.—Pubescent, with hairs denser and longer at             petiole base.         -   Color.—Yellow-green 150D to yellow-green 154D near base. -   Fruit: -   Breba crop:     -   -   Harvest maturity.—Dependent on weather conditions, usually             mid-June.         -   Relative size.—Large.         -   Length.—45 mm to 55 mm.         -   Diameter.—45 mm to 53 mm.         -   Weight.—43 g to 70 g.         -   Form.—Turbinate.         -   Neck.—Absent.         -   Stem length.—Short, 9 mm to 15 mm, slightly curved.         -   Stem diameter.—Thick, 5 mm to 6 mm.         -   Stem pubescence.—Many short fine hairs present, more dense             at base of stem.         -   Stem color.—Yellow-green 151A to yellow-green 151C.         -   Strength of attachment of stem to fruit.—Strong.         -   Bracts.—Usually 3 irregular-shaped bracts at base of stem,             appressed to upper shoulder of fruit; 2.0 mm to 3.0 mm long,             4.0 mm to 6.0 mm wide.         -   Ribbing.—Low longitudinal ribbing present; smooth, not             prominent; yellow-green 153D.         -   Eye.—Small and tight, diameter 0.2 mm to 2.0 mm; numerous             scales present around perimeter deter entrance of insects.         -   Skin texture.—Average thickness; durable; moderately glossy;             fine, short pubescence present; surface checking and skin             tears not usually present, longitudinal tears occasionally             appear.         -   Skin color.—Predominant color ranges from yellow 11A to             yellow-green 153C to yellow-green 153D; lighter-colored             yellow-green 150D lenticels distributed over surface and             concentrated on shoulders.         -   Meat.—Moderately thin near equator, 3.0 mm to 5.0 mm in             thickness; thicker near basal and apical ends, 6.0 mm to 9.0             mm; tender texture; sweet flavor; white 155B.         -   Pulp.—Nearly always fills center of fruit; color varies from             red 39B to orange-red 35A; soft, fine-grained texture.         -   Seeds.—Abundant; 1.25 mm diameter; oval; greyed orange 164C.         -   Flavor.—Sweet; rich; well-balanced.         -   Number of abnormal fruits.—Few. -   Fruit: -   Main crop:     -   -   Harvest maturity.—Dependent on weather conditions, usually             starting in mid-July and extending until late fall.         -   Relative size.—Medium to large.         -   Length.—39 mm to 46 mm.         -   Diameter.—40 mm to 45 mm.         -   Weight.—34 g to 48 g.         -   Form.—Usually turbinate, occasionally spherical.         -   Neck.—Usually absent.         -   Stem length.—Medium, 16 mm to 20 mm, moderately curved.         -   Stem diameter.—Moderately thick, 4 mm to 6 mm.         -   Stem pubescence.—Many short fine hairs present.         -   Stem color.—Yellow-green 145B to yellow-green 151C.         -   Strength of attachment of stem to fruit.—Strong.         -   Bracts.—Usually 3 conic-shaped bracts at base of stem.         -   Ribbing.—Low longitudinal ribbing present; smooth, not             prominent; yellow-green 144A to yellow-green 151A, usually             darker than overall skin color.         -   Eye.—Very small diameter 0.0 mm to 1.0 mm; numerous small             scales present around perimeter deter entrance of insects;             yellow-green 145B.         -   Skin texture.—Moderately thick; fine, short pubescence;             durable, skin tears not usually present, but occasionally             appear longitudinally.         -   Skin color.—Predominant color ranges from yellow-green 144C             to yellow-green 151A; very light bloom present;             lighter-colored (yellow-green 150D) lenticels distributed             over surface, more abundant from equator toward apex;             lenticel size 1.0 mm to 2.0 mm diameter; lenticel color             yellow-white 158B to yellow-green 150C.         -   Meat.—Medium thickness 2.5 mm to 4.0 mm along lateral             surface; thicker near apex, 3.0 mm to 5.0 mm; firm texture;             sweet flavor; white 155A.         -   Pulp.—Nearly always fills center of fruit; Greyed-purple             185A, becoming darker at full maturity; soft, fine- grained             with many fibrous filaments.         -   Seeds.—Abundant; 1.0 mm diameter; oval to ovate; greyed             orange 164C.         -   Flavor.—Sweet with some acidity; well-balanced.         -   Number of abnormal fruits.—Few.         -   Resistance/susceptibility to pests & diseases.—Not observed             to date. -   Market use: Well-suited for fresh market. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct fig tree named ‘S-54’ substantially as described and illustrated herein. 